Catch English Premier League, live and exclusive on ESPN Star Sports

Media Release, August 12

NEW DELHI

New season of the world’s most exciting football league, the English Premier League starts this Saturday, August 13th, 2005 LIVE & Exclusive on ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s leading sports broadcaster. The Barclays Premiership is regarded as the elite club competition in world football and is the flagship of the game’s governing body in England- the Football Association (FA)

The English Premier League (EPL) 2005-06 season on ESPN STAR Sports will showcase legendary clubs of Europe like Arsenal, Manchester United, defending champions Chelsea and the current UEFA Champions Liverpool clashing for English Football supremacy.

The FA Premier League was formed in 1992 and took over as the top professional football competition from the very first season. The inaugural season saw 22 club teams participate in the championship, however by the 1994-95 season the number of clubs was reduced to 20. Twelve years after its formation, the F.A. Premier League has confirmed its position as the world’s best domestic league competition. Over 10,000 goals have been scored and almost 150 million people have passed through the turnstiles.

This season, the competition gets tougher. With Chelsea running away with the Championship last season with a spend of $ 600 million, the other big clubs will be on the lookout to settle scores. Manchester United – the most successful club in the history of the Premiership with the most successful manager in Europe- Alex Ferguson, showed their all conquering form late season promising stiff competition at the top of the league. Arsenal- the talented powerhouse will be aiming at a repeat of their performance in 2003-04 season when they remained unbeaten throughout to be crowned champions again. Liverpool, who were written off by cynics last season, gave a rampant reply to all their critics by lifting Europe’s prestigious prize, the UEFA Championship will be all set to prove their mettle under coach Rafael Benitez.

The English Premier League has been known for the glamour, the fans, the monies spent and the multi millionaire club owners. All withstanding EPL arguably hosts the best of soccer talent of the world. Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Alan Shearer (Newcastle United), Steven Gerrad (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea) and others are world class players with proven mettle in World of football. With the transfer window still open, one can expect more stars in the galaxy of present ones in the Premiership.

The season’s action gets underway on Premiership Saturday, August 13th with Manchester United taking on Everton, who surprised one and all by finishing fourth last season. EPL regulars Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers will be looking to start with a win.  European Champions Liverpool will be kicking off their English Campaign against Middlesbrough, a team famous for putting up a show against the best.

On Super Sunday, August 14th, Arsenal faces Newcastle to serve up a closely fought contest with both teams looking to regain lost pride last season. In the second match on Sunday, Champions Chelsea will welcome Wigan Athletic, one of the teams promoted from second division, to the Premiership.

Soccer action from the EPL on ESPN STAR Sports is supported by a line up of interesting feature programming on EPL covering predictions, highlights, news and information, as well as pre and post game analysis, including ‘Here We Go’, ‘Tiger First Edition’, ‘Football Forecast’, ‘Premiership Saturday’, ‘Super Sunday’, ‘Football Extra’, ‘Football Focus’, ‘Goals’, ‘Football Crazy’, ‘Football Up Close’ and the football magazine show produced out of India – ‘Football Locker Room’.

For further information, please contact:

Sameer Bajaj

Manager - Corporate Communications

Ph: 011-5154 4444 – 51

Email: sameerb@espnstar.co.in

Tarundeep Singh

IPAN

Ph: 011- 52492100

Email: tarundeep.singh@ipan.com